A technicolor loony.

Nine years ago today, I was about three hours and twenty minutes away from meeting my first child.

I remember pushing her out...it was very much like being one of those play-doh extruders...I felt every bit of her. It sounds gross and weird but it was honestly amazing.

I remember asking "Is she okay?" and the nurse saying she was fine.

I remember the nurse asking if we wanted to know the sex, and holding back my nine-million smartassed comments, 'cause I knew she was trying to be nice, and I remember finding out that I had my girl. I'd been 99.9% sure she was a girl, right up to the moment I started the final pushes to get her out. Then I just wasn't sure.

I remember those eyes of hers, and that feeling when they gave her to me.

I remember watching Jeff become her dad.

I remember finally sleeping, hours later, with her in my arms, because that was the only thing that felt right.

She is, and always has been, amazing. She is smart, funny and has a wonderful way of looking at things. She has strength that surprises everyone. And came through the past three and a half months with grace and a genuine concern for her sister. She couldn't fit better in this family if we'd special-ordered her from a catalog.

Happy birthday, my big girl. I am so very lucky to be taking this journey with you.

If Charlie gains six ounces between yesterday and next Thursday, she'll be discharged from the home health program. Woot! Then we'd only have her pediatrician and her surgeon, medically speaking. That would be nice.

Also? She's been home three weeks today.

~~~

Dear ghods. Tomorrow, I become the mother of a nine year old. What is up with *that*?!

I'm baking the cake today, and wrapping presents tonight. 'Cause it can't be a birthday if I'm not wrapping stuff till the wee hours of the morning.;) I'm currently putting music on the 4-gig mp3 player we bought her. I looked at a *lot* of them, and I still think this one's a bit small (size-wise, not capacity-wise) but it gets FM, so she can listen to XM Kids (her dad leaves his XM transmitter on during the day, so she can listen to XM Kids on her stereo) and I know she'll get a kick out of that.

This weekend will be hers. I've got a ballet dvd from Netflix, we're hoping to go miniature golfing (indoor course attached to the mall) and if the stars align just right, the theatre in Germantown may still be playing Coraline, so she and I can finally go.

She asked for some barbies about a month ago, and in my search I found Tattoo Fun Barbie (I'm not sure that's the real name, but you get the drift). I bought it and it got here with no problems. A week ago she says "I really hope I get a Tattoo Barbie for my birthday". I suspect her of peeking, but can't actually come right out and say that, so I ask where she heard about it, all nonchalant like. She saw a commercial, and she told me all about the doll and the tattoos and so on. I didn't get the feeling she was lying either. So, two yays, one for getting her a good present and two for no snooping. :)

~~~

I want to thank each and every one of you for the love, support and good thoughts sent during the saga of getting Charlie home.

Could we have done it without you? Well, yeah...not doing it wasn't an option. Would it have sucked even more than it actually did? Oh *hell* yes.

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again. I'm lucky and blessed in my friends and family.

~~~

I have "Well Respected Man" going through my head, over and over again.

Account type: Permanent Account
Date created: 2001-05-20 01:56:26
Journal entries: 1,273
Comments: Posted: 17,180 - Received: 7,966

Well, happy Ljaversary to me! *Grin*

I had no idea it would last this long. I'm not *upset* at the longevity, just a bit surprised when I look at dates.

I find you all nifty. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey, no matter how long you've been on my reading list.

And, kshandra, thank you for mentioning Lj in AC. I'd be missing *so* many people right now if you hadn't. Including you. :)

I'd wonder what's coming up next, but I'd really rather not tempt fate into giving me anything too interesting. So I'll just eat my strawberries and post this already.

(You will note that, right from the beginning, I was posting in the wee hours. I don't know why I ever expected that to change.)